Brits away

Hello people,

I hope you're all well out there :-)

The world, elsewhere, hasn't changed!
They are all still at war for money and power and don't seem to understand that all is within you :-)

As our second visitation and as our potential purchase draws nigh I would appreciate an understanding as to why so many Brits leave?

It seems un-comprehensible to us? Fully furnished?

Many Thanks,

Brian & Sharon

Brian O'Huigin wrote: I would appreciate an understanding as to why so many Brits leave?
 

That's a big question with a number of possible responses - I think eneryone who leaves would have a different story to tell! Here's a few reasons I've heard people give:
Liked it at first, but found the language hard to learn and so didn't make friends with local people. Started to miss friends and family at home. Exchange rate dropped so became harder to make ends meet here on a pension. New grandchild born in the UK, want to be nearer them. Lack of things to do in a rural community: lack of Spanish makes theatre and other cultural activities hard to understand; if you're not a church-goer a lot of religious activities might not be of interest; lots of Brits find the late night fiesta culture too - well, late. Poor health, getting older - maybe the services in the UK would be easier to access (especially if don't speak much Spanish).

I'm happy here and plan to stay! However: I spend a lot of time learning and practising Spanish, I'm very religious, I love to stay out all night, I really enjoy living in a small community, I've got close family in Granada and I love gardening, hiking and nature. When we arrived, the pound was about on a par with the euro, so every improvement in the exchange rate is a bonus. Having said that, I haven't any grandchildren yet - who's knows how I'd feel if that changed.......

Miron gives a good summary ,many I know return to the Uk begrudgingly , for those reasons given

For most the move not only meets but surpasses expectations

I would suggest people return for are 3 key reasons , financial, cultural shock and missing family

A factor worth mentioning a little more, is the financial ie insufficient income for those without a pension .Spain has the highest unemployment rates in Europe . So even if person holds a sort after trade , first they need to master the language. Even then the likelihood of achieving employment away from a city / well populated area is low.

So really overall having realistic expectations . Learning the language is a challenge for many but with true grit and determination is achievable . As the locals say poco a poco , smile .

However on balance certainly the quality of life is better and the cost of living much lower. Wishing a wonderful move to the area . Hope that helped ! Have Fun !!!

ISTM there are two sorts of Brits who come to Spain: those who need to earn a living and those who don't.

Many of the former type came here in the "good old days" when property prices were low, the exchange rate was high and lots of other Brits were buying over here. That  created a market for people who didn't speak spanish, had no contacts in spanish society and were prepared to provide services such as building work, estate agency and general "get stuff done" to the british community. 

The second sort, mainly those on a pension, also took advantage of beneficial exchange rates and if recently retired: relatively good health and a sense of adventure. However, as time moved on the exchange rate dropped (though it's now climbing back up ), their health might have "turned" and the sense of adventure waned with the flies, the heat, the lack of british telly, the isolation, the cold inland winters and all the other things that seemed so "quaint" and became annoyances.

Now, that doesn't mean that everybody who came to this area has become disillusioned with it. Some  have "integrated", made friends and found out how to work the system. Others have developed communities - either by living near other brits or via the internet or networks like the Sunday market.

However, there will always be Brits coming to Spain with an incorrect view of what life here offers. Or who are unable to cope with the problems that living in a remote country area throws at them or who never planned to stay here forever. So there will always be a "revolving door" of people arriving and others going back - often a lot poorer than when they arrived.

If you live in Rural Spain, can you live ok on a UK state pension?

Just on a UK state pension? Maybe, just, with some provisos.
So long as you have no debts and own (no mortgage) the place where you live. So long as you are prepared to live a frugal life. So long as your car - and that seems to be an absolute necessity if you are in the countryside - runs OK. So long as you are in good health and able to do most of the household jobs and maintenance yourself, including a fair amount of physical activity. So long as nothing goes seriously wrong and you have enough savings for all the unexpected "surprises" that inevitably crop up.
Then yes. Probably.

Thanks Pete, I do not intend to live on a state pension but it gives me a great bench mark as to how my actual income from the UK will stretch in my cave.

I am currently looking at areas and then plan a short visit, a few weeks followed by a longer visit and finally rent somewhere. This seems to be the consensus of good advice on here.

Once all is good, nice location, nice lifestyle etc... buy a suitable cave

Thanks for the great advice, keep it coming please

I have lived here a long time on very little money. It's a close call sometimes, but a lot better lifestyle that I would have in the UK. I certainly couldn't afford to run a scooter in the UK that's for sure. I eat what the Spanish eat, with a few English treats occasionally. I have pidgin Spanish and, with the help of the good friends I have made here, I have survived a couple of medical emergencies. In my favour I own my cave, and I don't drink alcohol, so a big saving there. Plus I am handy around the house and can do my own scooter repairs when necessary. With those circumstances you can live on very little. All in all I am very happy indeed.

We lived for about a year on €500 a month between us. It was okay - we didn't run a car, eat out or go on holidays but we went out all the time to bars and fiestas and managed to pay the bills.

Has anyone any knowledge, as a frequent visitor or resident of Villena?

Maybe you could try going onto the Alicante Forums and asking there?